Councillor sparks faith debate

A call for immigrants to "leave their foreign gods at the door" has sparked a heated debate in Victoria's most diverse multicultural municipality.

In a leaked email obtained by The Age, Greater Dandenong councillor Paul Donovan also called for the words "tolerance for the integrity of all faiths" to be removed from the council's recently adopted faith statement.

The ALP member and former mayor said it was his "firmly held conviction" that Christianity was "the only hope for mankind" and the council was doing an injustice in promoting alternative religious beliefs.

Mr Donovan belongs to the Faith Christian Church, a pentecostal church that is part of the Assemblies of God grouping. The strictly conservative group believes the Bible is God's word to be applied to everyday life.

Yesterday Cr Donovan told The Age he was concerned about how council money was being distributed to religious groups and the vague message that was spreading in the community.

"Money is being given to groups that promote multi-faith and tolerance, rather than churches that stand up for one religion," he said.

His views on how council money was being allocated had "not pleased everyone", he said, but it was important to express his views.

Mr Donovan's group got no council funding in the 2003-04 allocation to community groups.

Mayor Clare O'Neil said Cr Donovan's views were inconsistent with the council's commitment to respecting all faiths.

Census figures show that more than half the city's residents identify with a Christian faith, but with residents from more than 140 backgrounds, the numbers belonging to the Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic faiths are increasing.

Cr Roz Blades, who in 1989 helped establish the city's Interfaith Network, said everyone, including Cr Donovan, had a right to their own beliefs.

"I've been on council with Paul for a number of years and have spoken to him about his beliefs," she said.

"When I saw the email I just thought, that's Paul's opinion - it's different to mine, but I'm Jewish."

However, Cr Naim Melham, a Lebanese migrant and member of the Greek Orthodox Church, said he was disgusted by the email and hoped the council would continue to embrace religious diversity.

"We've been working hard in Greater Dandenong to bring the community together, so to see one of our councillors do this, well, it's just not on," he said.